Engine Failed to start earlier..

[Bobbyzarlinga]

Hey guys, I searched the forum earlier and instead of rehashing an old topic I decided to just start a new one..

2003 Ford explorer sport - 4.0 V6 - 100,000 miles approx..

Ok, earlier I drove around town for a few hours doing random errands and last stop lowes for some quikcrete.. Parked in the loading area walked in and paid, walked out and loaded the three bags.. Just that quick.. Got back in and it turned over just like normal went to start and shuddered and died. Engine turned over fine, but no cranking.. I checked the fuse and it was fine, opened the hood nothing standing out screaming broke. No gas smell. Sat in the car and read the manual hoping that it would start everyonce and a while. As I was reading I saw it had mentioned resetting the Inertia switch, so I was like " what the h3ll.. Removed the trim and when I pushed on the switch it seems like it is up kinda high, very spring loaded and doesn't click down like my older ford does, but I turned the key and it fired up.. Rough at first but cleared and drove the 20 minute trip home with no issues.. I got home and shut it down, and if fired right back up without any sign of problems. A few hours later I took it out for 10 minutes came home and still.. Runs and starts like a champ.. No engine codes either...

The inertia switch - Could this have been the issue?

I have never heard of this possibility until an earlier read on this site that the switches have had issues in the past..

I need to regain trust in the truck so... Here I am...

 

[Bobmbx]

Apparently the inertia switch was your problem. To prove it to yourself, go out right now, pull that switch up, and start your truck. If it doesn't start, push the button down. then start your truck. If it starts and runs fine with the inertia switch in the "run" position, I'd say you've solved it.

Now, the question remains...what tripped your inertia switch? Who knows. It could have been the bags of Quickrete landing on the suspension, imparting some inertia to the car. Sounds like yours might have a hair trigger, or....more likely.....somebody bumped your truck while you were inside the store. Check your bumpers for smudges and paint trading evidence.

 

[Bobbyzarlinga]

Thanks for the reply. I will pull the switch up before work. I hope that was the issue. I would have to assume putting the bags of concrete into the hatch could have done it. The register where I was at was 30 feet from where I was parked outside the doors by the pallet of bags. In view... I had the same symptoms in a 94 Blazer I had and it left me stranded in the mountains of NC 550 miles from home. That scarred me for life.. But that one was fuel pump/fuel filter. From sloshing around so much up there.. Thanks again.

 

[Markaprice73]

Bobmdx replied exactly what I was going to reply.
But, you you can't pull the switch up. You have to give it a good rap with your fist to get the depressed button to release. Yes, it doesn't depress very far. Hard to know weather its depressed or not. One way is disconnect it and give it a shake. If it rattles, it's not depressed. When it's depressed it doesn't rattle.
Also, check for the switch connector for any melting. It's a known issue. Mine connector had slightly melted and still is but not enough to be an issue. Mine also had a hair trigger. My daughter would barely kick the panel and it would release. I purchased a new one for it and compared.(gave it a rap in my hand) The new one was much more secure when depressed. I got it from Ford. IIRC, it was under $20. Good luck

 

[koda2000]

i hope the inertia switch turns out to be the problem, but there's not a lot to go wrong with the switch. i'm thinking fuel pump or fuel pump relay if your really lucky.

 

[ICEMAN37738]

HI there! 4 weeks ago my 03 ST failed to restart after driving 30 miles and tried several times to switch ignition on again but failed. It looks like my battery is draining low coz the panel indicator lights grow dimmed everytime i switches it on though my battery is new. However after an hour waiting for rescue i tried to start ignition on again and i was surprise it started the engine running again and these happened a couple of times within that week, til now i am worried that this might happened again hopefully not in the middle of nowhere. I loved this car can you help me how to maintain my ST and can i have an accounts for our vendors for orders and shipping spare parts. thanks and regards......